Sports as salvation? You could make that argument for a city and a region battered by the auto and mortgage crises, battered worse than any area in the country. Roger Penske, the ultra-successful businessman, team owner and founder of this event, continues the good fight. When he fights, he generally wins, although his driver, Castroneves, finished second this day. To Penske, you don't win without battling, and the super-entrepreneur keeps battling for his hometown. It was his idea two weeks ago to place the 'We Love Detroit!' signs around the track and the island. If you saw the aerial shots, you saw breathtaking views of a city that shimmers from a distance -- a city that can glow up close too, given a chance. 'Sports is the common thread for a lot of positive things here,' said Penske, who also spearheaded Detroit's successful hosting of Super Bowl XL. 'You can see how it ignites things in the city. You can see what happened with restaurants, with Comerica Park and Ford Field. It's so important to showcase these things. I've been to many, many cities around the world and we really have a downtown, with the water and the river and Belle Isle, that's world class.' Hampered by a world-class smudge right now. As negotiations continue to remove Kwame Kilpatrick from the mayor's office because of felony charges for perjury, business leaders wince and wait. The mayoral crisis is all that many see, and Detroit is getting hammered for it nationally. That's one reason Penske gave people something else to see -- a fine race peppered with not-so-subtle signs. 'We're going through troubling times here,' Penske said before the race. 'Decisions obviously have to be made, and I think, hopefully, the important ones are. The mayor was a good friend of mine, but unfortunately this situation has clouded the good things he did for the city. 'I believe the Mayor needs to start a new life, and I think it's important we fill the void as quick as we can. Hopefully, the process will take its turn over the next several days and we'll have an outcome where he can move on and we can move on in the city. People are still investing not only their money, but their time and effort, too.' Every little bit helpsThat's all that needs to be said -- nothing bitter, nothing controversial. Moving on means moving forward, and for people in auto racing, moving forward fast is what it's all about. The Grand Prix returned to Belle Isle in 2007 after a six-year absence and will run on Labor Day weekend at least three more years. It's not here to save anything or anyone, although proceeds directly fund Belle Isle's infrastructure. The PGA at Oakland Hills last month didn't save the area either. Nor will the Final Four at Ford Field this spring. But it all shapes perceptions, counteracting the negativity and contradicting what many think they know of Detroit. It all helps and it never ends. College football is under way, and although Michigan and Michigan State started sloppily, both programs are loaded with promise. The Tigers are playing out a crushing disappointment but still drawing big crowds to Comerica Park. The Pistons and Wings send Detroit into a two-month playoff tizzy every spring. Heck, even the Lions are stirring after a 4-0 exhibition season. If they turn it around (hey, it's theoretically possible), you must believe anything can happen, right? Still a big drawSports run this city and bind this city more than ever, especially in the face of unrelenting bad news. 'In terms of what this means for the city and the state, it's a bit more this year,' said Bud Denker, chairman of the race. 'I guess the word I'd use is 'galvanizing.' It really brings us together. We love our cars and we love our sports, don't we?' Don't we ever. Despite the economy, business sponsors for the race rose from 59 to 69. Ticket sales were strong. Strolling around Belle Isle, I saw people of all races and ages, and loads of families. Many live and work and shop in the suburbs but when it's time to gather and party and root, they come to Detroit. That's the draw that will never change. That's the draw Penske understands as well as anyone. 'People give me credit but it's really not me,' Penske said. 'It's all the people behind the scenes, 1,100 volunteers. The people who realize how important it is for Detroit really stepped up, and that's what I wanted everyone to see, that we love Detroit. The way I run my business, we talk about what's positive each day. 'We've built our brand around racing because it's high-intensity and highly competitive. You learn to be a team and I think you learn how to win.' There might be a leadership void in the city, but I don't buy there's a leadership crisis. There are many willing to lead, either in business or in politics, and many are sports figures such as Mike Ilitch, the Ford family, Pistons owner Bill Davidson, former Piston Dave Bing, and of course, Penske. Two hours before the race Sunday, I asked Penske if he'd ever want to run for mayor. He smiled into the brilliant sun. 'No, no,' he said. 'I'm having fun what I'm doing. I just want to win a race.' For all the turmoil in Detroit, there's still plenty to be won, and plenty who can win. If you ever forget it, you know where to look to be reminded. You can reach Bob Wojnowski at [email protected].